News

News

Attack on Rasnayakapura HQI
Villagers ask why no police action
By Hiran Priyankara
More demonstrations were held this week to protest the failure by the police to take prompt action against those responsible for assaulting one of its own officers who attempted to arrest people involved in illegal sand mining.
Villagers claimed that it was now 14 days since the incident where the Rasnayakapura Headquarters Inspector K.M.V.K. Karunadheera was attacked at Deduru Oya.

The villagers charged that though the attackers had been identified, police for some reason or another had failed to arrest any suspects or record any statements.

A gang of sand miners were known to have brutally attacked Inspector Karunadheera while in the course of his police duties on March 30 and he continues to be warded in the police hospital.

“Policemen need to be ashamed of allowing the illegal miners to go free due to their political affiliations. It appears that politicos have taken over the duties of policemen”, a resident involved in the protest told The Sunday Times.
A large demonstration was held opposite the police station on Monday demanding justice for the police officer and called on the police to take action against the illegal sand miners.

Black flags were hoisted along the streets and most shops remained closed in protest. However some of those who were allegedly involved in sand mining were also seen among the demonstrators.

The Rasnayakapura Sasanarakshaka Mandalaya Registrar Ven. Kamarankulame Pungnarathana Thera, who was the organiser of the protest said, “Though we urged the Wayamba DIG to arrest the culprits who assaulted the OIC, to date no action has been taken and we are sad that policemen themselves do not honour their uniform. If the police remain silent we will go on with demonstrations and show the police the people’s power. It was I who organised this protest campaign and we want to make sure that this type of incidents will not occur again”.

Top

Back to News